The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-19
woMENs RIGHTS IN JAPAN
The Scandal About = Nobleman's Wife WIZ
10 u Vasaar Graduate.


agitated. A Minister Of State. one Of the
newly created peers Of the realm. has detected
his wife-an attractive and accomplished wo-
man, well known in this country as graduate
OF vassar College-in guilty intrigues with
menials and has sent her In disgrace to her
parents, under whose guardianship she will
henceforth remain. without other punishment
than the shame which she has brought upon
herself This leniency Is strikingly significant
OF the changes Japan has undergone in .
single generation. Ten years ago the newt
able penalty for such o crime would have been
immediate death. In the present case the in
jured husband might have taken the law into
l s to ese he VIE %s s
days; The motives By which he was imDell cd
who regard with interest the progress Of the
most advanced Of eastern nations.
not so utterly abject as that OF their sex In
other Asiatic countries. has always been de-
based to wholly - With
civilized State. The example Of the sovereign.
who openly maintains q body Of concubines.
the land the law Of, Of chastity Is cons dersd Bind.
they too often are. to prostitute, themselves for
the ssn 81 nG II deded
INCLUDING, the right to be properly educated.
Within the last dozen years. however. this
e Ths hsEe
sPaSSsd % the SSoessss s II JAPAN ns hass
elsewhere. enabling them TO demonstrste
q; least an intellectual seS%slsy With scholars
81 sss sisss
tss1
been VIII as such
waited classes. At the same time 1t has been
bitterly opposed BY the conservatiye majority.
n ShieS they now i've e FOR Sa.
na s sss 81 Ssl
tain members Of the Government. by whose aid
they have net only stemmed the torrent Of con
the removal Of restrictions upon the personal
and dsashsers q ociais to paSiiS entertains
ments from which they have heretofore been
s they II ~ shs
and similar festivals. their guardians cannot
keep them away without defying the chief mag:
step Is taken. and others are expected to follow
in regular succession.
however. been followed by a general scaui-
essence in the new principles. On the contrary
the antagonism Of the old old school SC has been
iiSs a party: i = Needless e deser,Ss shs
shs s WHO s ss
tlon Hsp q misdss$s. 4 & ioSaiy pseoisinsd
from the truth than this assumption. but It viii
be ssa 3 sorSas ana a9S be
The men who have set their souls to thts work
Of reform are. however. not Of the kind 70 be
might, Indeed, draw an effective argument from
the 81 S bar
with her own just claims and those OF her sex,
nss hlrse sy?Sssa soes IL
the wives In that country are not likely to- 60
are not merely as quick witted as any women
Ing and pure minded as the best that can else
whore BIO found; Wheneyer their conduct deyi-
atss from high standard # is almost With
efhs 'hGsS
to be- cruel calumny Invented by their
inlauitlss IN which they really have no share.
Who ask to Be- accepted into the brSthsrhoSd
81 enlightegSSd nations. The truth Is that the
At p%hsI they sm % they ' Wipe 1 the
black spot which stains their otherwise honor
able record; The rulers Of the empire, inc!ud-
his wiie's deprsvity, are we'll aware 81 this fact.
and. knowing that the prevalent vice Of their
senc &c hPS G Il sUnS,a a
deemed II expedient. In this instance. to act
with forbeerance and moderation. Their
Consistency. 30 long as the excuses Of men
go entirely unpublished II can do no harm to
show some mercy to guilty woman.